Dredger-bucket.



No. 800,936. PATENTED 0013, 1905.'

' T.VOLE ARY.

DREDGER BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6. 1905.

WITNESSES,

UNITED STATES PATENT orrion. I

TIMOTHY OLEARY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONEIIALF TO ROBERT S. MOORE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DREDGER-BUCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed January 6, 1905. Serial No. 239,853.

citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dredger-Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in dredger-buckets and the mounting in connection therewith.

It consists in the combination of parts and the mechanism and in details of construction, which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my bucket. Fig. 2 is a view of the pin. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of links and frog.-

It is the object of my invention to provide certain improvements in dredger-buckets and the connections thereof whereby the minimum of wear is effected with convenient and easy adjustment and compensation for such In the present construction I have shown my apparatus in the form of closely-coupled buckets, forming an endless chain of buckets, and adapted for lifting material from the bottom of bodies of water in which the dredgeboat or equivalent float carries the chain of buckets and mechanism by which the same is propelled.

As shown in the drawings, A A are the shells of the buckets, which may be made of cast or sheet metal in any usualorwell-known construction. These buckets have a segmental mouth adapted to excavate the material, and they are here shown as converging backwardly to the rear end or tail of the buckets. The buckets are made rigid with extending portions 2, which are designed to fit between opposite links of the chain, said portions 2 extending substantially the length of the bucket and projecting away from the side which is opposite to the convexity of the bucket. These extension portions 2 are formed with or secured to the bucket and are here shown as converging from the front toward the rear in coincidence with the convergence of the bucket-shell. They are made hollow for lightness and may if found desirable be filled or covered to prevent the collection of the dredged material in these cavities. The rear end of the extension 2 has a shoulder 2 formed on each side,

and projecting centrally therefrom is the portion 3, which serves as a connection and support for the links 4:, which are fitted upon each side of the extension, and also for the connection of the links of the next succeeding bucket, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The links 4 have each a shoulder or boss 5 at the end, and these shoulders or bosses are formed upon opposite sides of the link, so that when two links are in place secured upon each side of the extension the rearmost shoulders will fit against the shoulder of the extension and inclose the extension 3. Holes are made through the shoulders of the links and through the extension 3, and the holes in the shoulders of the followinglinks also coincide, so that when the bolt or pin is passed through the links and the part 3 the buckets will be connected together in close proximity and sufficiently flexible to form the required bucketchain. The shoulders or bosses at the front ends of the links project outwardly, as shown, and they are here shown as having grooves or channels 7 made longitudinally in their outer faces. The bolts 6 have a T-head, as at 8, which fits into the channels 7 and may be secured in any suitable or desired manner. By this means the bolt is retained in position so as to turn with the exterior links, and the bolt itself is turnable within the interior links and the extension 3 of the bucket in front. When the bolt has been worn to such an extent as makes it desirable, it is only necessary to raise the T-head out of the channel, turning the bolt half-way around and bringing the new wearing-surface in position. The head 8 of the pin is preferably beveled on the sides and the channels 7 of the links are correspondingly beveled, so that when introduced the head Will have a tight lit and any play or looseness can be prevented. Each end of the head 8 has a pin or bolt hole by which it may be secured to the link and the bolt can be turned as previously described. The bolt thus secured is prevented from turning in the outer links when the buckets pass over the tumblers at each end of the ladder or support upon which the chain is carried. The links have holes 4: made through them near each end coincident with similar holes made in the sides of the extension 2, so that the links may be riveted to the extension and may be reversed and riveted in the opposite direction. WVhen the links are reversed, it will be understood that the bosses or shoulders which are turned inward at the rear end will be turned outward when the links are reversed end for end and the shoulders previously at the front will be turned. inward at the rear end. When by reason of wear it is desirable to again make an adjustment, thelinks can then be changed to opposite sides of the extension and afterward reversed in their new position, thus providing for four adjustments during the life of the parts. The inturned shoulders of the links at the rear end engaging with the corresponding shoulders of the extension 2 transmit the power to the bucket, and if the space between the links and the shoulders of the extension 2 become worn the bucket will be forced back against the lower pin, thus equalizing the pull upon both pins. The bosses of the link also protect the sides of the bucket-lip where it is riveted to the link and extension 2. The space between the rear end of the part 3 and the links of the preceding bucket and the front end of the extension 2 of the succeeding or following bucket is such that each extension 2 acts as a scraper to clean the ladder-rollers of any accumulation which might otherwise take place. If it is desired to separate the buckets and make an open space instead of close coupling, as here shown, it may be effected by interposing a pair of links and an intermediate frog between each of the adjacent buckets. Links constructed in this manner are thus all independent of the buckets, and all lugs and connections are formed on the links instead of on the buckets.

Any wear that takes place between the lugs or shoulders and the tumblers and which tends to wear away the angles of the links can be compensated by reversing the links, first from end to end, then from side to side, as previously described, and finally when all angles have been worn new angles may be welded onto the lugs, thus preserving the links for an indefinite time.

The lip is carried down outside of the opposite links, to which and the extension 2 it is riveted, as shown. This relieves the bucket of strain, and the lip itself is inside of the plane of and is protected by the lugs of the links.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with dredger-buckets of independent connecting-links carried thereby.

2. The combination with dredger-buckets of independent and reversible connectinglinks.

3. A dredger-bucket having an extension, independent links, means for securing said links upon opposite sides of the extension and bolts connecting said links and buckets in serice.

4:. A dredger-bucket having an extension longitudinally upon one side, with shoulders and a reduced extension at the rear end, links fitting the sides of the extension having bosses projecting from opposite sides of the ends, means for attaching the links to the extension, and bolts extending through the overlapping ends of the links and the extension.

5. A dredging-bucket consisting of a segmental shell, an extension longitudinally upon one side of the shell and convergent from front to rear, said extension having shoulders and a coupling extension at the rear, links having shoulders or bosses formed upon the opposite sides of their front and rear ends and adapted to fit and engage with the shoulders of the extension at one end and to inclose the corresponding rear ends of the links in front, bolts by which said links and buckets are connected, means by which the bolts are fixed in the exterior links and turnable in theinterior links.

6. A dredging-bucket comprising a segmental shell with digging-lip at front, a longitudinally disposed portion projecting from the opposite side of the bucket, said portion having shoulders and a coupling extension at the rear, shouldered reversible links secured to the said projecting portion having boltholes through their ends coincident with corresponding holes in the said portion, coupling-bolts having T-heads formed upon one end and channels in the link ends in which said bolt-heads are reversibly fitted.

7. A dredging-bucket comprising a segmental rim with a digging-lip at the front, a longitudinallydisposed extension from the opposite side of the bucket having shoulders and a coupling extension at the rear, links reversibly secured upon opposite sides of the extension having shoulders adapted to engage those at the rear of the extension, bolt-holes through the link-shoulders and the coupling extension of the extension, bolts having T shaped heads convergent on the sides, correspondingly-shaped channels in the link ends in which the bolts are reversibly fitted, and supplemental pins or bolts by which the heads are secured.

8. Dredger buckets having segmental shells, longitudinally disposed extensions upon one side and detachable reversible links secured thereto and forming coupling connections for the buckets.

9. Dredger-buckets and means for relieving and distributing strains, said means comprising lips extending outwardly from one side, and links extending longitudinally upon each side and riveted to said lips.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

TIMOTHY OLEARY. Witnesses:

GEO. H. STRONG, S. H. NoURsE. 

